Mar 19 (washingtonpost.com) - Thousands of miles from the war in Ukraine, Japanese sushi restaurants and fish markets are feeling the pain of their country’s sanctions on Russia.
Prices of popular seafood and delicacies are soaring in Japan, a major importer of seafood from Russia, which sells salmon, crab, roe (fish eggs) and sea urchin at cheaper prices than sellers in Europe or Canada, or even some local fishermen.
But Japan’s limits on imports from Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine have thrown a wrench into the seafood supply chain in the island nation, where seafood is a staple — exacerbating the economic woes Japanese restaurants and vendors have endured from the pandemic.
Seafood imports from Norway have also declined because of rerouted and canceled flights out of Europe after sanctions limited access to Russian airspace, according to Japanese media reports.
Restaurant owners and fish market vendors are also concerned about higher fuel prices following the invasion, and they worry about a prolonged impact from the sanctions.
The pressure on markets and eateries is not likely to abate soon, especially after Japan announced this week it will revoke Russia’s “most-favored nation” trade status, which would result in higher tariffs for imported seafood. ...continue reading
